Beruthiel
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 50: A Murderer's Lot
Drat. Just typed up a nice review and accidently deleted it. I'll retype it 'cause you are a fantastic author and you deserve something for all the writing you do.
Reader's poll: both on Monday please. Had my fill of cliffies for now.
Following the rules sucks sometimes. Perhaps a certain Muse will know of some loophole in Gondor's law that would help Ulrich (hint, hint, Musie dear).
Ferdi must be having a tough time as well. On the one hand, this has been good for him: he's learned that not all men are ruffians, and you can't judge all by the actions of a few. But, he also has to watch a new friend die, which he wouldn't have to go through if he hadn't adjusted his view of Big Folk. He just doesn't have much good luck, does he?
Absolutely wonderful story. I'll be sorry to see it end!
Author's reply
You are a gem amongst readers. I hate it when the computer swallows a review! But it is always so nice when a reader takes the time to type it in again.
Monday it is. It surprised me that so many opted for delayed gratification, though I suppose a doozy of a cliffhanger did sound a bit daunting. (daunted me, or I would have posted it without asking you what *you* thought)
The Muse knows all along how a story will come out. Sometimes she surprises even me (like I didn't know the significance of the executioner until I wrote that part, but it all fit together like pieces of a jigsaw, so it must have been in the back of my mind for quite awhile). The rough draft for the next chapter (or 2 chapters, to be precise) has been in existence a long time, and the outline was written from that starting point.
Poor Ferdi. I think he's decided that the luck of the Tooks is not his strong suit.
Thanks for the words of praise.
Connie
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 50: A Murderer's Lot
Here's my two cents worth on the Readers' Poll. Post both parts Monday. I say this for purely selfish reasons. One, I don't think I can take another cliffy today;and two, I probably won't have much time for reading tomorrow since my daughter gets home from camp tomorrow and then is off to her dad's on Monday morning. By Monday I'll need something to take my mind off the next 18 days of enforced peace and quiet.
Thanks.
Connie.
Author's reply
Poor thing, enforced peace and quiet...
I think I would write my little fingers off in such a situation.
Probably a good thing that I'm over-busy.
The majority voted for Monday, so if the Lord allows the last few chapters of the story will be posted then.
Lyta Padfoot
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 50: A Murderer's Lot
I'm certain a certain author will be able to inspire the jurors into devising a way to save Ulrich.
Author's reply
Well, one would certainly hope that was the case...
Lyta Padfoot
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 49: Captured
Good thing Nell is all right, Ferdi might have been tempted to murder otherwise.
Connie
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 50: A Murderer's Lot
Argh! Anothe cliffy. Looks like we now wait like Ulrich. This truly is the eleventh hour. Can Merry come up with a miracle? Will the jurors condemn themselves for sentencing an honourable man? Things that make you go "hmmm".
Thanks.
Connie.
Author's reply
Did you see the reader poll? I'm giving readers a chance to read more soon (but as a consequence to get stuck with a really nasty cliffhanger) or wait until Monday when I'll have time to type in the next chapter after the cliffhanger and post both cliffie and resolution at once.
What do you think?
...and thanks for commenting!
Connie
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 49: Captured
That Nell, what a woman. She can actually find it in her heart to speak for the Brant half of that madman's mind. Amazing. I commend her. I couldn't do it.
They've taken Ulrich, without even a goodbye to his newfound friends. That's just plain cold, that is. I keep hoping against hope that they can get him out of this. But it looks like they may be flat out of time. Oh man, what a cliff hanger.
Connie.
Author's reply
Hobbits are amazing creatures, able to find pity in their hearts for the most surprising and degraded fellow creatures...
Perhaps Ulrich didn't want to distress the hobbits by saying goodbye. He might have thought to spare them pain when they'd settled to dinner and quiet conversation. I'm sure Bergil would have let him say goodbye if he'd insisted.
It is possible you will see the resolution to the cliffhanger in the next chapter to be posted (notice I did not say the *next* chapter, which has already been posted, even as you were writing the review of *this* chapter, I think...). It all depends on whether the chapter in rough draft remains intact or splits itself in the editing because it goes too long. I try not to post anything over 2,000 words as it makes future editing easier, if needed.
Thanks for commenting!
Bodkin
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 49: Captured
I am delighted that the hobbits are safe and Pilgrim/Brant is in custody - but you can't hang poor Ulrich. He saved Ferdi and Frodovar - he deserves to be rescued. But not by killing poor Freddy, who also deserves a break.
And poor Pilgrim/Brant is clearly nutty as a fruitcake - execution of the insane hardly fits modern ideas of suitable treatment.
More soon please. Feed the Muse chocolate. It usually helps.
Author's reply
Chocolate does help immensely. So do reviews, interestingly enough. Wonder if there's a way to engrave reviews on chocolate. Hmmm.
Ulrich does deserve a break, as does Freddy. But what's that quote from LOTR? "There are those who die who deserve life" or something to that effect. Still, the story's not over yet (very very close, though, and about to get closer as the next chapter gets posted in a minute or so--Internet allowing).
Poor Pilgrim/Brant. I fear that this story hardly fits modern ideas of law, justice and suitable treatment of the insane. It is not set in modern times, after all.
The story is now completely finished in rough draft, and getting typed in as I have time. (Had a couple of hours this afternoon. So much for housework.) At the moment there are three chapters remaining, including the one about to go up. Don't know yet, as it gets typed in, if either of the last two chapters will split into more but I don't foresee it happening unless the Muse decides to add more material in the final edit.
Thanks so much for reviewing. I wasn't going to post two chapters in one day, but seeing your review pop up made me feel mellow and pliable. Hmmm. Wonder if there's any chocolate in the house to make things even better...?
Hai Took
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
Scary, scary stuff! I do hope Frodovar is alright! I thought for srue Ferdi was a gonner! Brave Nell! I hope she is alright after this fall! Pippin and Diamond's children have all come pretty close to the Pilgrim! Anxiously awainting more! Thank you!
Lyta Padfoot
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
I hope Nell, Frodovar, and everyone will be all right. You just love your cliff hangers, don't you.
Author's reply
Cliffhanger? CLIFFhanger? Moi?
Thanks for commenting.
Bluegrass Elf
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
I'm confused. Are the pilgrim and Brant the same person?
Author's reply
Yes, that's right.
Thanks for the comment!
Meldewen Ilce
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
I hope someone will take note of Ulrich's actions - I mean come on there needs to be room in Gondor's law for some kind of mercy...
Oh please don't let Forget-me-not's Frodovar die as that's be cruel to her and to his parents!
And I had hopes Elfwine was helping to bring about the Pilgrim's capture when he gave him his horse. Pilgrim was stupid to take the horse as anyone knows the horses of Rohan are the most well-trained horses in Middle-earth and does he think that horse is going to cooperate with anyone but his master?
And Nell offering to take her neice's place - wow - I just hope she'll be all right as it would kill Ferdi to lose her!
Oh please do not be long in updating this story again!
Author's reply
Will do my best. My editor nagged me to add a chapter to "StarFire"--she's hankering for Ferdi h/c, and who am I to argue? But I'll get back to writing in "Rain" on the morrow, if I can get near the computer. (Maybe tonight, if I can persuade dh to work on a different computer...)
Sorry as it sounds you will be frustrated for the next few chapters with the rigidity of M-e justice... but of course, I'm basing it on the justice I've read about in history books, which was actually much worse than the simple hanging we're talking about here...
Law is necessary for an orderly society, I'm told. Tampering with the law can lead to the "slippery slope" syndrome. Our laws were put in place to protect the innocent (how did things get so twisted so that now the laws seem to protect the guilty more than anyone else?), and Ulrich himself admits he is not innocent of the charges against him. The King could choose to be merciful if he hadn't excused himself from the case; he has that kind of power (though being Aragorn, he's extremely cautious in exercising the power he has). The jurors don't feel as if they have that sort of leeway. Once a man is sentenced, unless new evidence turns up proving someone else guilty, the sentence must stand.
Otherwise there'd be no plot...
Still, there might be something in those dusty old Records, you never know.
Thanks for reviewing!
FantasyFan
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
A chance for Elfwine to shine, and do more than look rustic. If any horse would be well trained and loyal to his master, it would be a horse of Rohan. It's probably too much to hope the Pilgrim is incapacitated and Nell unhurt, but it was worth a try to get all the other hobbits out of harm's way.
I hope Frodovar does not die, for Ruby's sake if nobody else's. Although he said in the last chapter he could not be happier even should it be his last day, let's not test it, OK? I am sincerely hoping they have a chance for even more happiness someday. Who in the party is trained in field surgery? (besides Aragorn, who will be leading the rescue, I suppose.) He needs an occlusive dressing for the sucking chest wound so his lung doesn't collapse, but if major vessels are not cut it is survivable.
This is an action-packed story. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Author's reply
Thanks so much for reviewing.
I think I confused you with a typo. It was not Frodovar, but Fredegar who said in the last chapter that he could not be happier even should it be his last day, and yes, *that* was foreshadowing... for Freddy... but cannot say more or it would be a spoiler.
If you're worried about Freddy, BTW, go read the last chapter of "Small and Passing Thing". It ought to be soothing, I think.
Beruthiel
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
Quite the muse you have here. One nasty cliffie after another. I once read a story about an evil muse who popped out of the closet one day and demanded half the author's royalties, then completely took over the unfortunate author's life. Interestingly, this evil muse claimed to have thought up Lord of the Rings while Tolkien took all the credit for it. I always thought that was just a story, but now not so sure. Your muse doesn't live in your closet, does she?
Author's reply
Ummm, no, she resides in the corner, sitting by the hearth in a comfy rocking chair. Unless, of course, she's taken herself off to Hawaii for a break (without me, I might add).
I do not take credit for these stories, I'm always blaming... er... giving the Muse full credit for her whispers.
It's probably a mercy that there's no financial reward for writing this stuff... she'd hog the lion's share, I'm sure. (and well deserved!) Whew, that was close, didn't realise she was paying attention.
Closets, in our house, are dark, full, stuffy places that need clearing out.
Thanks for reviewing!
Connie
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
As i was reviewing the last chapter, you were posting this one.
Well not quite what I thought would happen. This certainly is a huge hurt/comfort story I will say. I like it!
Looks like everything is coming to a head. Thanks to that well trained horse of Rohan I think they finally have their madman. I hope.
Now, all they have to do is get Ulrich off the hook, or should I say rope. I would think his willingness to take a deathblow aimed at a hobbit should go a long way toward a pardon. If there is any justice in Gondor, and I know there is, they'll at least commute his sentence.
Thanks. Can't wait for more.
Connie.
Author's reply
Nice bit of timing, that!
Yes, am "into" hurt/comfort these days, in part to comfort my editor, who is snowed under at work.
Another chapter is in the works. Hoping to post it over the weekend. We'll see.
This story is not far from being finished, can you believe it? After the "day after tomorrow" there is not much left to write.
As to justice in Gondor, well, I talked a bit about that in answering another review, if you're interested.
Thanks for reviewing!
Bodkin
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 48: In the Bargain
Aarrgghh! What a chapter! Brave Ulrich - saving Ferdi and (hopefully) Frodovar. Brave, brave Nell - offering herself up for Forget-me-not. Poor Brant/Pilgrim - even though he is a total menace, he is not responsible for his actions. I hope Elfwine and the horse succeed in saving the day.
Keep the pace up - I can't wait too long to know what happens.
Author's reply
Whew, it is hard to keep the pace up. Jet lagged. Instead of getting up at 5 in the morning to write I'm sleeping in until I *have* to get up. But I ought to get back to normal in a few days, I hope. (How long does it take to get over jet lag?)
Ulrich is brave; I've grown quite fond of him over the course of the story. He'll continue to be brave all the way to the end of the story... which may not end as some folk think it will... we'll see. I hate to be predictable.
Nell, too, has found her courage, making her even more of a match for Ferdi.
We'll try to find a way to save Brant, yet, though once again it might surprise the reader. Can only hope.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Connie
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 47: The Two Shall Be as One
Oo, a cliffhanger.
I think Pilgrim is about to get his. I hope Ulrich is the one to stop him. Oh dear, I just had a horrible thought. Why do I have visions of Ulrich stepping between Ferdi and the Pilgrim's blade? Well at least it would be a noble way to die.
So, Pippin isn't doing so well. Why am I not surprised? I kinda lost track of all their ages, but he must be in his seventies I'd guess. I could see him beginning to spend more and more time in the South until he simply decided to make his stay permenant. Hmm, do I since more story ideas here?
Glad the muse was satisfied. We want her happy and productive. Nothing is too good for the muse. We'll give her anything she asks for as long as she keeps enspiring.
Thanks.
Connie.
Hai Took
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 47: The Two Shall Be as One
Eek! Oh dear, I am hoping that the Pilgrim is deiscovered before it is too late!! What a terrible cliff hanger! Ulrich not wanting any hobbit to die for him yet one is among them who has already offered. Waiting anxiously for the next chapter!
Bluegrass Elf
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 47: The Two Shall Be as One
Yipes! Things does not look very good.
Beruthiel
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 47: The Two Shall Be as One
You are evil. How could you leave us with such a cliffhanger?! I'll never be able to bear the suspense! Evil, evil, evil, I say!
Ahem. *forcibly restrains self*
Need I say I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter?
"`If I were to drink the last sip of the cup this very moment, I could not wish for more,' Fredevar said quietly." Shouldn't that be "Fredegar"? (Is it just me, or does that line seem ominous?)
It *was* Fatty who offered his life if Ulrich escaped, wasn't it?
Author's reply
I must defer to the Muse, who is chuckling evilly over there in the corner. Ah, beg pardon, she says she is merely clearing her throat.
Thank you for the catch. Have corrected it. Jet lag does weird things, but I struggle with names even when well rested.
You're right about Fatty's guarantee. Someone suggested it was Ferdi, a logical thought, but for the fact he was unconscious at the time the offer was made. Fatty it was, indeed.
Anso the Hobbit
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 34: The Lockholes of Gondor
You have a very interesting friendship between Ferdi and Ulrich mapped out, but I´m curious why Pippin wanted Ferdi to give Ulrich dinner each night. This is such an exciting story! Very well done Lindelea!
Bodkin
· 10 June 2004
· Chapter 47: The Two Shall Be as One
Hyperventilating - no! Save Ferdi! Leap between them! He can't be killed!
I am glad to see you are back on the case - I can't wait to see what happens next.
So Forget-me-not is only 22 - that's very young for a hobbit to be handfasted, she's barely a tween - but I suppose true love cannot be denied. I'm glad they had a good ceremony, although I suspect the hobbits would be happy to picnic anywhere. I think the audience might be a bit much, though. Probably an indoor feast will be better, if they manage to get there with everyone undamaged.
Update soon!
Anso the Hobbit
· 9 June 2004
· Chapter 19: Healing Begins
Oh wow! I`ve read all first 19 chapters in one go and this is just an amazing story! Poor hobbits! Bad ruffian! And thanks to Strider who knows his hobbits and his athelas and healing methods. I had my heart in my throat there for a moment when they did surgery on Pip, and tears in my eyes when they sang to bid him farewell. I hope Ferdi is all right by the end of this. You always manage to get a little humor into the story, like Eomer grunting while carrying Merry. How heavy can a little hobbit be to a tall man? Off to read more now...
Mysterious Jedi
· 7 June 2004
· Chapter 46: Slow but Steady
Come on, Lindelea's muse, get going!
Author's reply
The Muse has very graciously delivered a rather long chapter... so long that it split into two pieces. The first has been posted for your reading pleasure.
Thanks so much for your contribution! Reviews do put the Muse into a good humour!
Beruthiel
· 7 June 2004
· Chapter 46: Slow but Steady
Which hobbit offered his life if Ulrich tried to escape? Was it Fatty? That makes sense, considering it was Fatty who recognized his voice and got him caught in the first place. Guess I'll have to wait to find out. Or I might never find out. Cuillon is right, they have indeed condemned an honourable man.
Author's reply
See, reviewing's not that arduous, is it? And it brings such a light to the Muse's eyes.
I do believe you find out in the following chapter (or at least there's a heavy hint) which hobbit offered his life.
Thanks!
Beruthiel
· 7 June 2004
· Chapter 45: A Model of Patience
Amazing. I am actually starting to feel sorry for Brant. Pilgrim is freaking me out. Hope he doesn't get one of the little ones.